With a little over three weeks to rehearse for shows here at the theatre, it’s a fast and intense process to put together a professional production.

For August: Osage County, Director Bob Hupp said it’s been an enjoyable rehearsal process with the top-notch crew and cast who are in place. For our third installment of August Tuesday, we had a chance to talk to him about how he approaches this production, what happens in rehearsal, what role the designers play in this production and more.

Here is what he had to say:

Purchase your ticket to the show online or by calling the Box Office at (501) 378-0405. We hope to see you here!

There is no denying that there are some physical scenes in our production of Wait Until Dark— from an innocent slap to pushing to full-on fighting. And to get the actors prepped for the physical nature of the historical production, they have left it in the hands of master instructor and fight choreographer D.C. Wright.

Throughout rehearsals, Wright, who has worked on Rep productions, such as The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged), Treasure Island, Death of a Salesman, To Kill a Mockingbird, Henry V and more, runs through each physical scene in slow motion to ensure actors are safely acting out their scenes and also make sure it’s as realistic as possible.

Check out these photos (and video!) that we captured during a recent fight choreography rehearsal before the run of the show!

Craig Maravich (Mike Talman) and Amy Hutchins (Susy) run through their physical scene

Great seats are available for Wait Until Dark. Purchase yours online or by calling the Box Office at (501) 378-0405.

D.C. Wright (Fight Choreographer) is excited to be back at The Rep again, having previously directed the fights for The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged), Treasure Island, Death of a Salesman, To Kill a Mockingbird, Henry V, Hamlet, both productions of Les Misérables, Moonlight and Magnolias, Of Mice and Men, and Romeo and Juliet. He has also directed fights for One Man, Two Guv’nors and Hamlet at Theatre Squared in Fayetteville; Romeo and Juliet, Winters Tale, Titus Andronicus, Taming of the Shrew, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged, Macbeth, Twelfth Night and Henry VIII for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival; and the Off-Broadway production of The Blowin of Baile Gall. D.C. Wright has been teaching, performing and directing violence since 1994. He is recognized as a Certified Teacher of Stage Combat by the Society of American Fight Directors and as a Master Instructor by Dueling Arts International. D.C. teaches Movement and Stage Combat at Western Illinois University.